Florida High School Football - Wekiva knocked off by North Gwinnett
August 31, 2018: Apopka, FL 32703 North Gwinnett Bulldogs (Suwanee, GA) fans left the game content Friday as they saw their football team gain a win over the host Wekiva Mustangs (Apopka, FL), 45-37 in a non-league test.
With the triumph, North Gwinnett improves its record to 2-0 on the campaign. The Bulldogs host Norcross (Norcross, GA) to play the Blue Devils in a non-league battle on Friday, September 7. The Blue Devils go into the battle with a record of 1-1. Norcross lost 39-24 in their recent non-league battle against Mill Creek (Hoschton, GA)
Coming up next, the Mustangs play the Winter Park Wildcats (Winter Park, FL) in a non-league battle, on Friday, September 7. Wekiva will attempt to advance on its 1-1 season record. The Wildcats go into the battle with a 2-0 record after their 34-10 non-league win over Oviedo (Oviedo, FL).
First Quarter
The game started with a three-and-out drive from the Bulldogs answered by the Mustangs turning it back over on downs. Then the teams reversed roles with Gwinnett losing the ball on downs and Wekiva punting. Luther Johnson had the first notable play of the night with a fumble recovery, but the Mustangs were unable to take advantage and had to punt again. Wekiva was winning the field position battle but so far had nothing to show for it.
Second Quarter
Entering the second quarter, the Bulldogs threw an interception to Tyler Davis on their third play of the next drive, and the Mustangs would not forgive them a second time. A 19-yard pass completion from Sean Robles to Terrence Moore set up three consecutive Brandon Hill rushes ending in the first touchdown of the night.
After trading punts with Wekiva, the Bulldogs would become victims of a turnover once again, with Johnson slamming into the running back hard enough to pop the ball out, and an alert Malcolm Green ready to scoop it up and run 45 yards to the end zone to put Wekiva up 14-0.
The celebration was short-lived, though, as Gwinnett's JR Martin found an open Javonni Cunningham deep in the secondary for a 40-yard touchdown just three plays into the drive. So the Bulldogs would not go into the locker room scoreless after all, instead trailing by a touchdown 14-7.
Third Quarter
It was the second half where Wekiva's offense truly found their rhythm, opening with a six-minute series of repeated short runs by Supreme Richardson and Hill, culminating in a one-yard punch-in from Hill. There was no answer from the Bulldogs who went three-and-out, and the Mustangs were back to chugging on the ground again. This time they weren't as successful with the drive ending on an eight-yard sack by Gwinnett's Chris Miles on fourth down.
Fourth Quarter
The very first play of the Bulldogs' next drive was one for the highlight reel and kept the game alive and interesting. Martin threw a reverse pass to running back Tyler Goodson, who then lobbed it deep to find another running back (on paper), Devin Crosby. All in all, it was a 58-yard touchdown play and closed the Mustang lead to 21-14.
Just when the Mustang offense was starting to feel predictable with constant Richardson/Hill middle-to-right-side running routes, Robles changed it up with a 62-yard bullseye to Terrence Moore. DJ Hart made an impressive dive for the Bulldogs to save the touchdown, but Brandon Hill punched it the rest of the way on the next four carries for his third touchdown of the night to make it 28-14.
Down two touchdowns with just over five minutes on the clock, the Bulldogs needed the momentum to turn around quickly to have a chance. But a soft throw on the first play of the drive was picked off by Malcolm Green, and that made the outcome all but certain.
